Sukampol Visits South, Says Thaksin Did Not Meet PULO Leaders

[webfact]

Sukampol visits South, says Thaksin did not meet PULO leaders

The Nation

Officials brought damaged cars out of the March 31 car bomb scene at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel

BANGKOK:-- Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat yesterday said it was not considered possible that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had held secret talks with exiled insurgents abroad.

Sukampol made the comment before he travelled to Pattani and Yala on a oneday visit to follow up the situation in the violenceplagued area and provide moral support to military personnel stationed there.

Sukampol said before leaving Bangkok that the trip was aimed at getting firsthand information on obstacles and recommendations from the authorities in the region and seeking ways to coordinate operations among the various agencies in the Southern provinces so that they run more smoothly.

He said any intelligence and strategic operations that were working properly would not be altered, but more communication technology for more effective coordination among official agencies would be implemented.

As for security measures to ensure public safety, he said the emergency decree was being enforced in the three Southern provinces and the local authorities would decide whether a curfew was needed in any of their jurisdictions.

Sukampol also dismissed the possibility that Thaksin had held secret talks with Thai insurgents living abroad. He said the claim would not have an impact on security matters and urged the public not to give it any credence.

Opposition Democrat MPs for the Southern border provinces of Songkhla and Yala cited informed sources as saying that Thaksin had recently talked with the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) in a neighbouring country. However, the insurgent movement reportedly rejected the ousted his alleged offer of money in exchange for an end to the eightyear insurgency in the deep South.

The failed talks allegedly led to the recent surge of violence that has rocked the region.

The Democrat MPs asked the government to investigate the PULO website, where Thaksin was said to be pictured embracing its leader.

At a meeting with Sukampol and senior officials in Yala, Pol Colonel Thawee Sodsong, secretarygeneral of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, reported that authorities had held two suspects involved in the Yala carbombing in custody but details were withheld pending investigation.

Meanwhile, the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre has distributed photos and details of five stolen vehicles that could be used in future carbombings. The agency is urging the public to keep a lookout and alert authorities if they spot any suspicious cars or trucks.

Police said of eight stolen vehicles reported, three had been fitted with explosive devices and used in last weekend's bombings - one in Hat Yai and two in Yala on the same day.

The other five suspicious vehicles, all pickups, are a white Toyota Hilux, a green Mitsubishi L200, and three Isuzus, one brown, one bronze and one gold.

The double bomb attacks in Songkhla and Yala killed a total of 14 and injured many others.

In related news, 50 soldiers yesterday continued to clear the March 31 carbomb scene at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel's underground parking lot in Songkhla's Hat Yai district and removed cars from the building, while affected Thais and Malaysians presented papers proving car ownership to claim their damaged vehicles for repair. As the scene was to be totally clear of cars yesterday, unclaimed vehicles would be temporarily kept at the Sena Narong Army Camp, pending owners' picking them up.

Sukit Wattanawong, head of Hat Yai Municipality's public works division, said an initial inspection by Prince of Songkla correct, no h University engineering experts had found that structural damage at the blast scene on the car park's B3 level was reparable.

A detailed inspection will be held after the scene is cleared of cars and debris, and some testing tools are needed to determine the full damage and set out the methods for repair, which should take a month, Sukit said.

Plaza executive Wanchai Leelasithorn said the hotel would resume service in two weeks, while the plaza section would remain closed pending the investigation and repairs.

-- The Nation 2012-04-07

[sparebox2]

So Thaksin want to strike a deal with the Muslim?

Make no sense to me.

[otherstuff1957]

Actually, Thaksin would be the perfect person to negotiate with Pulo, after all, who is going to overide his decisions... Yingluck?

However, we would have to rely on him putting Thailand's best interest in front rather than the best interests of his businesses & family, which isn't very likely.

[drdoom6996]

Taksin made a deal with a General with troops and guns. The last drug war under Taksin was more like genocide.

[ScouseTommy]

Who knows what happened! democrats say this, PTP say that.....blah blah blah. However Ignoring terrorists never gets you anywhere. Take the IRA. When we ignored them they bombed us, we shot them. We sat down and talked and now they are a political party. No one is getting blown up. (yes I know a very simplified statement). Someone needs to talk, mediate. For the sake of the people in the south i dont really care who it is, even Toxsin. As long as some sort of peace can be brokered.

[webfact]

Yuthasak rejects claim ex-PM Thaksin held secret talks with southern insurgency group

BANGKOK, April 7 -- Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa on Saturday rejected a claim made by the opposition Democrat Party that fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has held secret talks with Thailand’s southern insurgency group.

Gen Yuthasak has challenged the oppositon Democrat Party to present evidences to support their claim.

The opposition Democrat MPs for southern border provinces of Songkhla Thaworn Senneam and of Yala Prasert Pongsuwan as citing informed sources as saying that Thaksin recently spoke with the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) in a neighbouring country.

The insurgent movement, however, rejected the ousted premier's offer of money in exchange for an end to the eight-year insurgency in Thailand's southern border region. The failed talks reportedly led to recent violence which has rocked the region.

They also asked the government to investigate the PULO website where Mr Thaksin was said to be pictured embracing its leader.

Gen Yuthasak said that there was no pictures, photos or any talks with insurgents, and the Democrats should show evidence.

He said Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) Secretary-General Pol Col Tawee Sodsong has also affirmed that there was no talks and the government has a clear policy not to hold talks with insurgent groups.

He said there were not more than six insurgent groups that opererated in the southern provinces.

Gen Yuthasak said that authorities would not use a defensive approach but to apply more proactive measures, set up checkpoints and inspect suspected locations.

If the authorities could work vigorously, the insurgents would not dare to attack, he said, adding that from now on, security agencies would be on high alert to prevent possible attacks.

He added that insurgents in the three southern provinces would not expand their operations to Bangkok but authorities would not be negligent and would heighten security monitoring. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-07

[khunming]

The story on the Thai language southern Thai news site, Khontai.com, (referenced below) states that the National Police have established 7 "Safety Zones" in the south. It's interesting that they STILL don't use the word "terrorist" to describe these terrorists. The Thai is something like "Car Bomb Disturbers of the peace of the Southern border" ... what seems to me a painfully long phrase that obviously avoids using the Thai word for "terrorist". I don't understand how that helps anything by ignoring the fact that terrorists carried out a terrorist act. Maybe it's a minor point, but I think it is reflective of the failure of the government policy to realistically confront the situation.

วันนี้ สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติจัด 7 เซฟตี้โซนจุดล่อแหลมย่านไทยพุทธ ป้องผู้ก่อความไม่สงบคาร์บอมบ์ซ้ำชายแดนใต้ http://www.khontai.c....php?topic=3969

[maeab]

So Thaksin want to strike a deal with the Muslim?

Make no sense to me.

It makes perfect sence, If thaksin could stop the bombings in the south it would make it much easier to return as a hero, He just doesnt realise how much they dispise him, he probably tried to pay them off to cool it for a while with the bombings, But it backfired resulting in the deaths in hat yai. and many more to come. Edited April 8, 2012 by maeab